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Post by Just Plain Bill on Aug 10, 2008 12:06:51 GMT -5
Fair play I don't see anything wrong in trying this stuff out at your own expense. I'm messing about with the ignition boxes for these bikes at the moment. I don't have a big company paying me to find out how these work. <SNIP> Areo, This article by Ron Sutton on SR500 ignitions might help you with your project: www.siue.edu/~rsutton/ignition/Bill |
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Post by Just Plain Bill on Sept 13, 2008 19:48:15 GMT -5
Here's a quick update on the GigaBike SR500/400 alloy swingarms: The one I ordered last month has arrived from Thailand! It's a work of art and comes with new pivot bearings, rear axle, and spacers.  With the axles & spacers, it weighs 8 pounds, four ounces, that's one pound 12 ounces less than the stock swingarm with axle and one spacer.  The dimensions are almost exactly the same as the factory steel swingarm although it looks like there's more room for a wide tire because the design doesn't angle in to the pivot tube until it's beyond the area where the tire is widest.   As you might expect, it's set up for a drum rear brake. I suppose one could rotate the caliper 180 degrees and attach the torque arm to the tab on the underside of the swingarm.  Because I'm working on two SR500's simultaneously with different themes, I have a stack of wheels to pick from. This is from a TX750:  This is from a 1988 GSX600 Katana (one year only style):  And this is from a 1989-97 GSX600 Katana:  Using the factory axle and pivot covers, I test mounted the swingarm in a bare frame (with Suzuki Katana forks). The fit was perfect -- except of course, before using it, I'll have to remove the passenger footrest brackets and exhaust pipe support bracket.   More information on this swingarm as I am able to gather it. Bill |
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Post by G Man on Sept 14, 2008 1:13:28 GMT -5
Hi Bill. I appreciate the thorough update. The unit sure looks the part doesn't it. Looking forward to hearing more about it as you progress. Seems like another great alternative.
Talk to you soon,
G Man
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Post by pablosrfivehundred on Oct 23, 2008 15:08:22 GMT -5
any new progress?
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Post by Just Plain Bill on Oct 24, 2008 0:41:48 GMT -5
Nothing to report on the alloy swingarm except I was admiring it down in my shop just an hour ago. ;D I probably won't have it x-rayed unless one of the dogs needs a trip to the vet and the swingarm goes along for the ride.
I have two '78 SR500's to "restore". One will be done as a classic Brit single and one as a cafe racer. I found myself very busy moving from one to the other with no discernable progress on either and a lot of cash going out and parts coming in. So I've decided to focus on the Brit style project and get that done. The GigaBike swingarm is planned to go on the cafe racer project. But that could change - since it's already set up for a drum brake and the cafe bike will have discs front and rear.
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Post by denialdeath on Oct 29, 2008 16:55:30 GMT -5
What did the shipping on that cost you? I really dig the tank on the gigabike, looks like the same one from the same Japanese supplier that Deus uses. Bet it would be much cheaper from gigabike than Deus.
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Post by Just Plain Bill on Oct 30, 2008 0:11:27 GMT -5
What did the shipping on that cost you? I really dig the tank on the gigabike, looks like the same one from the same Japanese supplier that Deus uses. Bet it would be much cheaper from gigabike than Deus. I forget the amount I paid for shipping and all the correspondence about the purchase is in another computer I can't get to right now. So my comments are from memory and that's not perfect. I am sure of this though -- the guy on eBay selling swingarms he buys from GigaBike, charges $120 to ship to the US. Gigabike might have to charge more because they are a business and have to pay a government duty on goods they export and that adds to their cost. As for saving money by buying a made in Japan part from a Thai retailer, you might not. While the export duty is relatively small (10 to 15%) the import duty is very high (over 50%). They would have to add that fee to your cost for the part, plus whatever it cost them to have it shipped to Thailand from Japan. And you might get stuck with another export duty as well as the hgh shipping charges from Thailand to the US. I expect Deus and other such shops have similar factors influencing their pricing too. The ideal situation would be to find a retailer in Japan willing to sell and ship Japanese made SR500 OEM and aftermarket products to other countries. Buyers would have to pay such duties as their own countries impose, but at least wouldn't get stuck with paying intermediary country duties and shipping. If anyone on the forum is one, or know of one -- feel free to announce yourself. ;D Bill |
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